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Samasati Retreat & Rainforest Sanctuary Perched on a magical mountain ridge overlooking the Caribbean Sea, Samasati offers guest house bungalow and casita accommodations just minutes away from the beaches of Puerto Viejo. For over 20 years we have hosted world class retreats, workshops, guest artists and travelers like you! Your stay includes delicious vegetarian buffet served in our open air restaurant with breathtaking views. Also available on site are healing massage treatments, hot tub, nature trails, daily yoga classes and a meditation hall. A daily shuttle carries guest to the nearby beach town of Puerto Viejo de Talamanca.

The location is stunning. And that’s about it. This place is massively overpriced for what it offers. There are better places out there for half the money. The rooms are very basic and not very clean. There is a single soap dispenser in the shower for body and hair. The towels are cheap and have been shrunk in the wash. The bed sheets are cheap, the beds are not very comfortable spring mattresses. My mosquito net was full of bugs when I arrived. The internet for the entire hotel is via the Reception’s cell phone, so don’t even think about sending pictures or making a FaceTime call. Obviously there is internet only in the main building, not in your room. When I arrived I asked when is yoga. They said they would look into it - I said I would expect yoga at “Samasati yoga and wellness retreat”. They arranged yoga for me, for $20. The rooms are a way away from the main building. That would be great if there was a way to communicate with reception other than having to walk down. My key didn’t work when I arrived. I walked down, got a new key, then went back up. My shower was not working. I walked down. The manager was there looking at his cellphone. Do you think he bothered to come up to my room to take a look himself? No, he sent the handyman. The handyman said it was sorted. I went up. It wasn’t sorted. I walked down. The paths are not lit so if you don’t have a torch, good luck. They don’t provide torches (well maybe if you walk down and ask in reception!!). The manager looked up from his cell phone and said he would send the handyman again. He then carried on playing with his phone. He offered me a glass of wine. For him, it was just a shower not working. For me, it was having to walk up and down numerous times to communicate with them, it was not being looked after, after I paid so much money for the room. The handyman couldn’t get the shower sorted so they offered me another room. The room was even further away from the main building and didn’t have a view, so I told them I would just have a shower there and go back to my room. Luckily I had a torch to get back to my room, because they didn’t offer one. The day after the manager said they would send the maintenance guy to my room to get the shower sorted. There were muddy foot prints on the floor towels when I got back. But the shower was still having problems. There was something wrong with the shower head, so I told the manager to exchange the head with another room’s. An hour later, the shower was finally sorted. Thank you! I handed my laundry in the second day and they washed everything - lights and darks - together, including a purple scarf that dyed most of my clothing. I told them about it and they rewashed everything but they obviously couldn’t get the purple off. Do you think they offered a free dinner or lunch for ruining my clothes? No. And the best thing is that they tried to charge me for the laundry! Basically the hotel is selling an experience that is mostly untrue. Yes you’re isolated, but you can still hear the running of the jacuzzi engine room or people talking in the dining area from your room. The hotel is poorly run by a man who doesn’t care or doesn’t know how to run a luxury hotel. And yes - this is luxury in Costa Rica at $150/night. I paid the same in Tortuguero at Tortuga Lodge and the place is out of this world beautiful, clean, and runs like clockwork. And yes, it is equally isolated, since you can only reach it by boat. If you are happy with a basic room, go to Alby Lodge in Cahuita instead. Your cute little bungalow is set in a beautiful garden, a short walk from the main town, where you can go get local food. From there you can also walk 5min to the National Park, for your fix of stunning scenery. There are yoga classes and massages in Cahuita too. Alby Lodge doesn’t have a proper website but you can just write an email to them. Or go to Le Chameleon in Puerto Viejo.…

Si estás buscando encontrar tu ser interior, y aprender la maravillosa ciencia del Yoga, ad más de algunos conocimientos Mayas, este lugar es para ti. If you are looking for your inerself, and some good knowlege about Yoga and want to be a yoga instructor, this is your place and You Will have a he opportunity to learn a out the Mayan traducciones and knowlege too.…

An excellent experience. I stayed there 5 nights, each day there was an excellent treat. The food was really good. The location is amazing. I have never been in such a wonderful hotel. I really hope I can come back

The best parts of this place are the tranquil stay in the forest and the generous, lovely staff. The place is beautiful. Rain forests are loud (all the animals, rain and falling fruit) but completely relaxing. The view was amazing and the sounds of the forest, rejuvenating. The food was very good. The staff is helpful in providing trips down the mountain, but it's not as easy as walking out of your hotel and out into the community or the beach. You have to plan. The yoga was awesome and, because there were so few of us, tailored really well to my needs. You will run into some forest creatures -- spiders, frogs, lizards -- so be prepared! The rooms are well maintained and I can't say enough great things about the staff. Highly recommend!…

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Date of stay: June 2019

Rooms

Cleanliness

Service

Trip type: Traveled solo

Room Tip:The rooms with communal bathrooms are a bit away from the center and don't have the beautiful...

Almost 17 years ago I cut out a picture of this retreat center from a yoga journal magazine and place it on my vision board promising that someday I would visit. My dream came true as I fell in love with a Costa Rican man that I met in Texas and he took me there as a surprise after a family vacation in Limon, CR one year. Now it has become a tradition that after spending a week with his family in Costa Rica I stay at Samasati by myself and enjoy the 3 day solo retreat vacation from my vacation. I enjoy the simple bungalows that I stay in and living the simple quiet life in nature at this retreat Center. Doing yoga in the rainforest and having amazing massages we're beyond relaxing. The food is delicious and they go out of their way to make gluten free and vegetarian for their guests. Their staff is top notch. If you want a break from the mainstream, this is your place. I can't wait till next year.…